Holly Hill police officer charged with domestic violence, fired

A Holly Hill officer was arrested after being accused of hitting his estranged wife, Police Chief Mark Barker said.

LYDA LONGASTAFF WRITER

A Holly Hill officer was arrested after being accused of hitting his estranged wife, Police Chief Mark Barker said.

The arrest of 37-year-old Stephen Matthews, who was fired Monday, was a blow to Barker because it's the first time that a Holly Hill officer has been arrested, the chief said.

"It's personally very disappointing to me," Barker said.

The arrest occurred Saturday night after police said Mathews struck his wife, Marjorie, 29, on the left side of the face. Barker said Matthews was returning his 2-year-old daughter to his wife in the parking lot of her apartment complex in Daytona Beach.

For some reason, the two adults began arguing and the wife called Daytona Beach police, claiming Matthews hit her, Barker said.

Police took Matthews to the Volusia County Branch Jail and he was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, Barker said.

"He was terminated this morning," Barker said Monday. "Our code of ethics requires that our officers keep their private and public lives unsullied."

Matthews, of Daytona Beach, was hired as a part-time officer last year and became a full-time policeman in March, Barker said.